Remains in former Pennsylvania home Man convicted of murder of wife identified as missing ex-girlfriend

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say human remains discovered in the former home of a man recently convicted of murdering his wife have been identified as those of his missing former girlfriend.

Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees told reporters last week that Jilly Todaro's remains were identified through body imaging performed by a forensic odontologist and anthropologist. Lees declined to give further details about the cause of death, but called it “homicidal violence.” The remains were found buried in the basement of the former Johnstown home of Brian Giles, 48, a day after he was convicted in the death of Nancy Giles, who disappeared in October 2018.

Nancy Giles' remains were found in May 2019 in a shallow grave near a trail on Incline Hill in downtown Johnstown. Todaro, Giles' girlfriend after his wife's disappearance, also lived in the house and disappeared in December 2020.

Prosecutor Greg Neugebauer told reporters he expects charges to be filed in the near future in her death.

Brian Giles' defense attorney, Timothy Burns, declined to comment a week ago on the discovery of the remains before they were identified. During the trial into the death of Nancy Giles, he cited his client's report of his mental health problems and called the convictions “disappointing”, saying the defense would explore its options. Brian Giles himself declared his innocence as he was led from the courtroom.

Neugebauer said the search of the residence a day after the verdict took place after authorities “had very specific information for the first time about where a body would be located.”

“Obviously when we went there we expected it to be Jilly,” he said. He said she had been dead “for some time” and finding the remains in the manner they did had made the prosecution's case “considerably stronger”. Loved ones of Todaro, who was 43 at the time of her disappearance, were “very grateful” that she had been found and they could “begin the healing and grieving process”, Lees said.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Aurandt said she wished Todaro “could have seen, over the course of her life, how many people came together and sacrificed a lot to make sure she was found and treated.” with the dignity she deserved.

“I wish she could see how many people care,” Aurandt said.